Imaret

Good
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple

Good
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple
  : A historical oasis in the prime location of the historical center of Kavala, quiet and relaxing. Like a time machine journey 2 centuries back and away from the busy, noisy, 21st century outside world, bursting with cars, tavernas, coffee bars, souvenir shops, an hungry sightseeing crowds. Inside you forget that you are part of the outside. The Imaret suit (the top accommodation type) provides enough space, marvelous internal architecture and spacious private terrace with the best views to the sea, and Kavala port and town. If the outside noise from the ferries and trucks bothers, you step back inside behind the 1.5 meters walls, you draw curtains, light the many candles and/or lights and relax in silence or listen to a Callas disc on an 90s casette/disk player . Should you feel need for a walk you can stroll the enormous internal space and explore the niches, fountains, gardens, pool and admire the architecture in the company of many cats who feel and behave like masters of the place. The whole property is magnificent. Staff is polite.
  : The price is exorbitant for what you get. The property is a cultural heritage and needs maintenance by the owner (I guess the Egyptian state) and the manager, which IMO is not enough. Some of the furnitures looked not antique but old and not maintained with proper care. The included breakfast is not up to the standard defined by the price for your stay. For this price the half a bottle Champagne in the mini bar should be a compliment drink and not 75 above. Instead you pay extra 5 and 7 even for mineral water bottles (by the way there was no price list in the room). There is no coffee machine with capsules, which is a standard in most of the hotels (we always bring our own but left it in the car). No parking nearby. They offer a valet service for 80 and take the car somewhere (we skipped it). The many cats who live on site behave like masters and IMO their company in the dining place is inappropriate. All fauteuils are dressed in white and their lower backside is yellowed by the male cats marking habits. Smoking is forbidden in the outside dining area but they allow cats and keep a cage with shouting parrots. The pots on shelves next the well served dining tables are ugly with gardenias full of lice. The 5 course menu of the dinner upon their choice is pricey, meager, and not to everyone taste. Wine is extremely overpriced.

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple
  : The level of service was excellent and all the staff were extremely pleasant, professional and competent. The architectural surroundings were as gorgeous as we expected, and the whole ambiance of the place very relaxing and peaceful. It's an oasis of civilization and serenity. The room and bathroom were both very characterful, elegant and comfortable. The food is exceptional both in its preparation and presentation.
  : If you are fussy about pillows, as I am, you need to be aware that these are duck feather and extremely soft- not to everyone's taste. The swimming pool is very pleasant but it is only waist deep. If you want to have the Hamam or Spa service, you need to book before you arrive. We failed to do so and therefore missed out. You might have to park some way from the hotel. The above are not complaints but are tips for future guests. In our 3 night stay we were totally unable to find the control for the ceiling fan anywhere (and kept forgetting to ask) so we settled for the A/C which was noisy. Given the cost, it would have been appropriate, I would think, to provide the room with normal drinking water daily without extra charge. One definite complaint relates to the Wine list. The wines are largely non-Greek and hugely expensive. Greece has some truly excellent and interesting wines which should not be ignored. There is an argument that if you stay in a place like this, you need to be someone who doesn't care about money. But EUR18 for just a glass of Chianti is a bit steep by any standards!

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Family with Young Children
  : Fantastic overall, very unusual and romantic. A superb view from the restaurant. Very private and secluded atmosphere despite its location in the very heart of the old city. Exceptional and personal service. Very relaxing on all accounts
  : For that quality of a hotel, I would expect better choice of food

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple

Poor
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple
  : The place is majestic, the building and location are magnificent and the quality of the restoration is superb.
  : The business is run poorly. Is is supposed to be a hamam / spa resort, however the facilities were simply not available because they were relying on a single person to run it and sadly that person had an emergency. Extremely slow service and total lack of empathy.

Good
Traveller Type: Traveling as Couple
  : STAFF ...BREAKFAST ...RESTAURANT... INTERNAL RECEPTION HALL... EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATED RADIO STATION AND RESPECTIVE MUSIC
  : SWIMMING "POOL" tiny ...NO VIEWS FROM THE RATHER EXPENSIVE ROOM...FACILITIES IN THE ROOM WERE SCRUFFY AND FALLING TO BITS...